Escapement for button-attaching machines.



F. R. WHITE.

ESCAPEMENT FOR BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4,1915.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

sagas-mg m! llllll nrirrnn s 'rnrns raarniwr orrgrbn FRANKLIN R. WHITE,OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE PATENT BUTTON COMPANY, OFWATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, CORPORATION OF CON- N ECTICUT.

ESCAPEMENT FOR BUTTON-ATTACIIING MACHINES.

v Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

Application filed June 4, 1915. Serial No. 32,197.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN B; WHITE a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have made and invented certain new and useful Im provcmentsin Escapements for Button- Attaching Machines, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates to a button escapement for button attachingmachines.

An object of the present invention is to provide a button escapementwhich may be used with buttons of different sizes, 2'. 6., it may beused for successively and singly releasing buttons of either the one ortwopiece type.

A further object is to provide a button escapement of such design andarrangement that a single button may be released when so desired, andwithout in any way interfering with the automatic operation of theescapement.

It often happens that an operator, while using a button attachingmachine, will accidentally dislodge the button from above the buttonattaching anvil, and it is customary, in such event, for the operator toremove the corresponding fastener from its seated position upon theanvil of the machine. This is a dangerous practice, and often results insevere injury to the operator, as there is considerable danger of thefoot treadle being accidentally or unconsciously depressed duringsuchprocedure. In order to do away with this practice, the button escapementis so arranged that it may be quickly and manually oscillated, resultingin the releasement of a. single button which immediately assumes theposition, and takes the place, of that which was accidetally dislodged,thus saving considerable time and labor, and eliminating a dangerouspractice, as well as preventing the Waste of the tacks or fasteners.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds,wherein it is to be understood that changes in the precise embodiment ofthe invention can be made Within the scope of what is claimed, withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, wherein 2- Figure 1 is a fragmental view in frontelevation of a button attaching machine, the same being equipped with abutton escapement embodying the characteristic features of my invention;Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the button chute, andincluding the button esoapement, and illustrating the same subsequent tothe release ment of a button; Fig. 3 is a similar view and illustratingthe escapement in its normal position; Fig. 4L is a sectional view takenon the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a fragmental view in verticalsection of the chute and adjacent portions of the escapement, andillustrating the manner in which the single-piece buttons are adapted topass beneath the admission jaw of the escapement, the admission jawbeing in its lowered position; Fig. 6 is a similar view with theadmission jaw in its raised position, preventing the wedging of thetwo-piece buttons should they ride one over the other as illustrated inthe said figure.

Referring specifically to the several .views, the'button machine 10includes the usual button hopper 11 and button chute 12, the latterterminating at the button receiving members 13, to which it is adaptedto deliver buttons. A plunger 14 is mounted above the button receivingmembers and is connected to, so as to be operated by, the actuatinglever 14:, the movements of the plunger resulting in the securement ofthe tack or fastener to the button and the application of the sameto thedesired article.

The button chute 12 is provided upon its under surface, andapproximately midway of its length, with the recess 15, in which isrigidly secured a pivot pin 16. A button escapement 17 is mounted foroscillation 20, which extend across the runway 21 of.

the chute and are adapted to singly and successively release the buttonscontained within the'upper portion of the chute. The sides of the chuteare cut away as at 22, for the reception of the oscillating jaws 20, sothat they are adapted to contact with the upwardly projecting hub of thebutton, and singly release the same. The lower of the jaws 20, and whichconstitutes the releasing member 23, is rigidly and fixedly secured to,so as to form a part of, the side 19 of the frame. The upper jaw forms aselectingor admission member 24:, and is adjustably secured to-the side19 so as to move away from, or toward, the bottom of the chute runway21, this adjustable securement of the admission member being efi'ectedby the provision of the pin 25 upon the side 19, and which projectswithin a recess 26 formed in the admission member, and a second pin 27which is fixedly secured to the admission member and projects throughand beyond an opening 28 formed in the side 19. A fastening screw 29extends within the side 19 of the frame and is adapted to contact withthe pin 27 and fixedly hold the admission member in its adjustedposition. With the releasing jaws thus arranged, the escapement isadapted to effectively release buttons of either the one or two-piecetype,

the heads of which buttons vary in thickness. With the admission jaw inposition close to the bottom of the runway. 21, the one-piece buttonwhich is characterized by thin heads and small or short hubs, can besuccessfully released.

When it is desired to use two-piece buttons, the hubs of which arelarger, and the heads of which are thicker, than the one- Y piece buttonof the same diameter, the previously mentioned adjustment of theadmission member or jaw 2 results in. the choking or "clogging of thebutton escapement, due to the fact that as the head of one button ridesover the head of the lower and adjacent button, the head of the upperbutand every time. In order,'therefore, to accommodate for the slightlyraised or elevated position of the overriding button, the

admission member 24 is elevated, or moved away from the bottom of therunway of the I chute, andis securely locked in such position,

as illustrated in Fig. 6, by the set screw'29, the button escapementbeing thus adaptable for buttons of; different styles" or types, andoperating with equal effectiveness with each.

The button escapement is automatically oscillated bythe actuating lever14:, which is mechanically and positively connected to the 'movingmechanism of the entire machine. The actuating lever is preferably inthe withdrawal of the admission member from above the runway 21, and theentrance of a button within the escapement. The return motion of theescapement is accomplished by the action of the spring 33, which issecured to the escapement frame 18 and the chute l2, and so located thatthe tension of the. spring forcibly oscillates the button escapement ina direction opposite to that produced by the contact of the strikingblock with the bufiing plate 31. Thus for each complete oscillation ofthe actuating lever, the button escapement will perform a completeoscillation, resulting in the releasement of a single button.

The bufiing plate 31 which is pivotally secured to the side 19 of theescapement frame, is substantially triangular in crosssection, so thatit may rock with respect to the frame, and is constrained in such.movements by the tension spring 34, the same extending between a knob orprojection 35 upon the buiiing'plate, and a similar projection 36carried by the escapement frame. The spring is so arranged that the end37 of the bufling plate which is provided with the beveled edge andagainst which the striking block is adapted to contact, is resilientlyheld away from the frame 18, and the spring is of suflicient strength tomaintain the buffing plate so located during the forced oscillation ofthe button escapement, the spring 34 being considerably heavier than thespring 33. The bufling plate thus acts as a cushion against which thestriking block contacts, and thus prevents the severe hammering actionotherwise experienced. The normal position of the parts of the buttonescapement is disclosed in Fig. 3, and the button contained within theescapement may be released by striking the escapement frame so as toforce the releasing jaw 23 from above the chute runway 21, the buttonescapement being allowed to so oscillate by means ofthe pivotal mountingof the buffing plate 31, which, although already in p.

contact with the then stationary striking block 30, allows theescapement frame to rock and move with relation thereto. In addition,therefore, to the ordinary automatic operation of the button escapementwhich results in the successive releasement of buttons within the upperportion of the button chute, the escapement may be manually actuated soas to deliver a single button to the button receiving members 13,

ii Oi) its should a button become accidentally dislodged therefrom.

What I claim is 1. An escapement for use in connection with a chutecomprising spaced jaws mounted for movement with respect to said chute,and one of said jaws mounted for adjustment toward and away from thebottom of the chute runway.

2. An escapement for chutes comprising a frame mounted for movement withrespect to said chute, and jaws carried by said frame and projectingabove, and transversely of, the chute runway, one of said jaws mountedfor adjustment toward and away from the bottom wall of said runway.

3. An escapement for a chute comprising a frame, means for mounting thesame to oscillate with respect to said chute, means carried by saidframe adapted to singly release the contents of said chute, said meansadjustable in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of the runwayof said chute, and means for holding the same in adjusted position.

4. A button escapement for a button chute comprising a frame mounted formovement with respect to said chute, and jaws carried by said frame andprojecting above, and transversely of, the runway of said chute, theupper or foremost jaw being mounted for adjustment toward and away fromthe bottom of said runway.

5. An escapement for chutes comprising a frame mounted for movement withrespect to said chute, admission and releasing members carried by saidframe and projecting above the runway of said chute, the admissionmember being mounted for adjustment in a direction perpendicular to thebottom wall of the runway of said chute, and means for holding it inadjusted position.

6. A button escapement for a button chute comprising a frame pivotallysecured to said chute and adapted to oscillate with respect therewith,said frame including upstanding sides embracing said chute therebetween,and admission and releasing members carried by said frame projectingtransversely of said runway, said admission member mounted foradjustment in a direction perpendicular to the bottom wall of said run-7 A button escapement for button chutes comprising a frame mounted tooscillate with respect to said chute, said frame including upstandingand spaced sides embracing said chute therebetween, and admission andreleasing members carried by said sides, projecting transversely of saidrunway, and adapted to singly release articles disposed therein, saidadmission member adjustably secured to said frame so that it may beadjusted toward and away from the bottom wall of said runway.

8. A mechanism of the class described comprising an escapement, and abufiing member movably carried thereby.

9. An escapement comprising releasing members, and a buffing membercarried thereby and movable with respect thereto.

10. In combination, a chute, an escapement therefor, and a buffingmember movably carried by said escapement.

11. An escapement for a chute comprising means for releasing articlesdisposed within the runway of said chute, and a buffing member carriedby said means and mounted for resilient movement with respect thereto.

12. A button escapement for a chute comprising button releasing meansmovable with respect to said chute, and a bufiing member carried by saidmeans and movable with respect thereto and resiliently resisting suchmotion.

13. An escapement provided with a bull'- ing member, said buffing memberadapted to rock with respect thereto, and a spring engaging said buffingmember and said escapement and resiliently holding the same againstrocking.

14. A mechanism of the class described comprising a chute, an escapementmechanism adapted to oscillate with respect thereto, resilient meansengaging said escapement adapted to oscillate the same in one direction,a buffing plate carried by said escapement and mounted for resilientmotion with respect thereto, and means adapted to contact with saidbuiiing plate for the forced oscillation of said escapement.

15. A mechanism of the class described comprising a chute, an escapementmechanism adapted to oscillate with respect thereto, resilient meansengaging said escapement adapted to oscillate the same in one direction,a buffing plate carried by said escapement and mounted for resilientmotion with respect thereto, and means adapted to contact with saidbufiing plate for the forced oscillation of said escapement, said meansnormally in contact with said buffing plate.

Signed at Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticutthis 28th day of May A. D. 1915.

FRANKLIN R. WHITE.

Witnesses:

HOWARD P. HART, KATHARINE A. RUBEY.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

